Shirlene: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	75	8	–	#1,816
1930s	818	82	+991%	#520
1940s	1,022	102	+25%	#663
1950s	1,356	136	+33%	#680
1960s	1,039	104	-23%	#942
1970s	301	30	-71%	#1,634
1980s	146	15	-51%	#3,591
1990s	67	7	-54%	#5,158
2000s	27	3	-60%	#13,280
2010s	5	1	-81%	#19,435
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

#1,816

1930s

818

+991%

#520

1940s

1,022

102

+25%

#663

1950s

1,356

136

+33%

#680

1960s

1,039

104

-23%

#942

1970s

301

-71%

#1,634

1980s

146

-51%

#3,591

1990s

-54%

#5,158

2000s

-60%

#13,280

2010s

-81%

#19,435

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Shirlene

Shirlene is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1923, 4,856 American babies have been named Shirlene. Its peak came in 1956, when 159 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1950s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Shirlene stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Shirlene?

The median living Shirlene is about 68 years old; half are between 60 and 76. An estimated 3,500 people named Shirlene are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Shirlene year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	5	#19,435
2009	–	–
2008	5	#20,042
2007	–	–
2006	5	#19,627
2005	–	–
2004	5	#18,406
2003	5	#18,014
2002	–	–
2001	7	#13,280
2000	–	–
1995	8	#10,387
1990	5	#14,932
1985	12	#5,997
1980	23	#3,591
1975	32	#2,503
1970	58	#1,634
1965	118	#942
1960	123	#967
1955	122	#882
1950	158	#680
1945	97	#764
1940	110	#663
1935	104	#639
1930	23	#1,700
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Shirlene, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Shirlene?

The median living Shirlene is about 68 years old. Half of all living Shirlenes are between 60 and 76 years old.

How many people named Shirlene are alive today?

An estimated 3,500 people named Shirlene are alive in the United States, based on 4,856 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Shirlene in 2025?

Shirlene did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Shirlene?

4,856 babies have been named Shirlene in the United States since 1923, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shirlene most popular?

Shirlene peaked in 1956, when 159 newborns received the name.

Is Shirlene a boy or girl name?

Shirlene is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Shirlene rising or falling?

Shirlene has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Shirlene

Shirlene popularity over time

The story of Shirlene

How old are people named Shirlene?

Shirlene year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Shirlene